102 DIARY OF A SPORTSMAN NATURALIST 



and the black-breasted Kaleej pheasant (Gennceus Hors- 

 fieldi] would be commonly seen, though by no means 

 -so commonly bagged for the larder. With extreme good 

 luck one might see a tiger or leopard come down, in the 

 late evening or early morning to drink. It was not an 

 uncommon sight to come upon animals swimming across the 

 rivers. I have seen sambhar and barking deer on several 

 occasions, both animals swimming with ease, the head held 

 comparatively high out of the water. Monkeys also, swarms 

 of them, and they are a ludicrous sight. Monkeys, or any- 

 way the species which inhabits these forests, swim very high 

 out of the water, head and shoulders well above the surface. 

 Also they swim with great ease. But the row and fuss they 

 make when a boat containing men comes along is most 

 amusing. Whilst still at a distance they are insolent, turn 

 and jabber and make faces ; as the distance between 

 lessens they begin to put on the pace a bit, still losing 

 ground by constantly turning to see how near the boat is 

 getting and making the most comical grimaces in which 

 fear now commences to appear. When they at last 

 apprehend that the boat is actually coming for them and 

 the danger is serious all semblance of defiance leaves them 

 and a sauve qui peut takes place. Down goes the head and 

 they take to a kind of overhead side-stroke, scrambling 

 through the water at a great rate and deadly silent the 

 while. On reaching the bank the more timid ones bolt 

 straight into the jungle without more ado ; pluckier or more 

 cheeky members halt just on the edge of the jungle, face the 

 river, give themselves a shake, have a scratch or two and 

 fling at one a few of their choicest expletives, the words 

 tumbling out the faster the nearer the boat approaches. As 

 the keel impinges on the mud-bank, with a last curse they 

 leap for safety and one hears the band disappear with 

 indignant scolding and chattering amongst the trees. 



Practically the whole of the forest produce in the shape 

 of logs, dug-out boats, bamboos, canes, etc., is floated down 

 these rivers in the form of great rafts a hundred feet and more 

 in length. Two or three men are in charge and they spend 

 weeks on board living in a small bamboo-walled thatched 

 hut built on the raft. It is a sight to see these great rafts 

 coming down-stream, and more especially when the river is 

 in flood in the monsoon months. The rivers are also the 

 highways of the local population. They bring their produce 



